Quotes from Gary D. Schmidt

Learn everything you can - everything. And then use all that you have learned to grow up too be a wise and good man.

In English, we were still on the Introduction to Poetry Unit, and I'm not lying, if I ever meet Percy Bysshe Shelley walking down the streets of Marysville, I'm going to punch him right in the face.

Why can't poets just say what they want to say and then shut up?

Sometimes--and I know it doesn't last for anything more than a second--sometimes there can be perfect understanding between two people who can't stand each other. He smiled, and I smiled, and we put the Timex watches on, and we watched the seconds flit by.

Christmas is the season for miracles, you know. Sometimes they come big and loud, I guess—but I've never seen one of those. I think probably most miracles are a lot smaller, and sort of still, and so quiet, you could miss them.

You know how that feels?

You don't have to say ridiculous things twice, Holling. Once is more than enough.

When a girl holds a rose up to you, you run better, let me tell you.

I wonder why Holling had the fastest time," said Danny after the announcements - a whole lot louder than he had to. "Could it be because he was running away from two rats who were trying to eat him?" "That might have a little to do with it," I said.

Toads, beetles, bats.

Okay, so maybe sometimes the real world is smiles and miracles.

By the way, in case you weren't paying attention or something, did you catch what Mr. Powell called me? "Young artist." I bet you missed that.

The raindrops) played across the coast all through the night, until the soft new day shrugged itself awake, tried on amethyst and lavender for a while, and finally decided on pale yellow.

Sometimes it's like that. You know something good is coming, and even though it's not even close yet, still, just knowing it's coming is enough to make you snort and nicker. Sort of.

We carry our childhood with us.

No one ever comes back from Vietnam. Not really.

That was how Joseph heard for the first time that he would never see Madeleine again, never touch her again, never talk to her again, never walk through the woods with her again. That was how Joseph heard for the first time that Madeleine, whom he loved, was gone.

A comedy is about characters who dare to know that they may choose a happy ending after all.

I think he became a man who brought peace and wisdom to hi world, because he knew about war and folly. I think that he loved greatly, because he had seen what lost love is. And I think he came to know, too, that he was loved greatly." She looked at the strawberry in her hands. "But I thought you didn't want me to tell you your future.

Spring break! Were there any two words ever put together that make a more beautiful sound?

Doug Swieteck,' Mr. Ferris said, 'do you know the basic principle of physical science?' A trick? 'No,' I said, sort of slow. 'The basic principle of physical science is this: no two bodies can occupy the same space at the same time. Do you understand that?' 'I think so,' I said. 'Do you understand what the principle means?' I shook my head. 'It means, Doug Swieteck, that in this class, you are not your brother.

But he can't love her just for himself. He has to love her for her, too. That means he has to learn to let her live the life that can come to her with a new home.

The world turns and the world spins, the tide runs in and the tide runs out, and there is nothing in the world more beautiful and more wonderful in all its evolved forms than two souls who look at each other straight on.

Talk is only silence that ain't workin' well.